7 Best Classic Cookie Recipes

So what makes a cookie a classic? To me, it's a recipe that you turn to over and over again. The recipe must stand the test of time. Most of these recipes are very old and have been passed down through the generations. These are the cookies that fill cookie jars all over America. They are soft, crisp, moist, tender, and delicious all at once! Be sure to read How to Make the Best Cookies before you begin if you're a beginner. Measure carefully, watch the cookies as they bake, and enjoy...MORE every last sweet bite.

Yes, these are the best chocolate chip cookies. Period. I'll match them up against any challengers. The finely ground oatmeal and white chocolate add incredible texture. And they bake for a longer period of time at a lower temperature, which makes them crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside.

These fabulous cookies are great for any holiday. They're a must at Christmas, of course, and they're perfect for Easter, and Thanksgiving, and Fourth of July - heck, make them once a week! You can roll them out thin and cut with cookie cutters, or just roll the dough into balls, place on the cookie sheet, and flatten with the bottom of a glass for less work and no waste!

I had to include these incredibly popular cookies. I've been making them since I was 10 years old. This recipe is a bit different from other versions out there because it has more cocoa powder and more peanut butter, making the cookies creamier and more flavorful.

This classic shortbread cookie is super tender and delicious. My trick of coating them in powdered sugar while they're hot and again after they are cool creates a thin frosting that surrounds the cookie, making another texture to enjoy.

The only thing that is better in a cookie than chocolate chips is M&M candies. These chewy cookies are packed full of the crunchy and melty candies. And you can customize them for the season by using the special M&Ms the Mars company puts out: orange and black for Halloween, red and green for Christmas, pastel colors for Easter!

These big, soft cookies are frosted with a rich buttercream frosting. You can leave the frosting off, but why? It dries to a wonderful texture with a slightly crisp outer shell, so you bite down through crisp shell, soft frosting, and chewy cookie. Wow.